We have further mention of a work on we must attribute to him the merit of great industry
the constitution of Lacedaemon ascribed to Diosco and patient research ; and it seems but just to
rides (Athen.
the constitution of Lacedaemon ascribed to Diosco and patient research ; and it seems but just to
rides (Athen.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
Of Lacedaemon, is quoted by Fulgentius contain a system of reasoning on numbers by the
( Mythinl. i. 1) as the author of a work on Antiqui- aid of general symbols, and with some use of sym-
ties, in fourteen books, and on the worship of the bols of operation ; so that, though the demonstra-
gods. Whether he is the same as the geographer, tions are very much conducted in words at length,
Diophantus, who wrote a description of the north- and arranged so as to remind us of Euclid, there is
ern countries (Phot. Bibl. Cod. 250, p. 454, b. ), no question that the work is algebraical: not a
which is also quoted by Stephanus of Byzantium treatise on algebra, but an algebraical treatise on
(s. v. "A6101), or the Diophantus who wrote a work the relations of integer numbers, and on the solu-
TOMITIKá (Steph. Byz. s. v. Aibuotivo), cannot be tion of equations of more than one variable in inte-
decided.
gers. Hence such questions obtained the name of
4. A slave of Straton, who was manumitted by Diophantine, and the modern works on that pecu-
the will of his master. (Diog. Laërt. v. 63. ) He culiar branch of numerical analysis which is called
seems to be the same as the Diophantus mentioned the theory of numbers, such as those of Gauss and
in the will of Lycon. (Id. v. 71. )
Legendre, would have been said, a century ago, to
5. Of Syracuse, a Pythagorean philosopher, who be full of Diophantine analysis. As there are many
seems to have been an author, for his opinion on the classical students who will not see a copy of Dio-
origin of the world is adduced by Theodoretus. phantus in their lives, it may be desirable to give
(Therap. iv. p. 795. )
(L. S. ] one simple proposition from that writer in modern
DIOPHANTUS (416 Pavtos), an Athenian co words and symbols, annexing the algebraical phrases
mic poet of the new comedy. (Antiatticista, p. 115, from the original.
21: φέρειν τον οίνον επί του νηφειν. Διόφαντος Book i. qu. 30. Having given the sum of two
Μετοικιζομένω. )
[P. S. ] numbers (20) and their product (96), required the
DIOPHANTUS (A16Pavtos), of Alexandria, numbers. Observe that the square of the half sum
the only Greek writer on Algebra. His period is should be greater than the product. Let the differ-
wholly unknown, which is not to be wondered at ence of the numbers be 2s (sso B'); then the sum
if we consider that he stands quite alone as to the being 20 (x') and the half sum 10 (1) the greater
subject which he treated. But, looking at the im- number will be s+10 (Tetáxow oỦv • uelzwv sou
probability of all mention of such a writer being évòs kal uôi) and the less will be 10-8 (uôi
omitted by Proclus and Pappus, we feel strongly in-dehyer soù évòs, which he would often write mô
clined to place him towards the end of the fifth cen- sòs à). But the product is 96 (RS') which is also
tury of our era at the earliest. If the Diophantus, 100—si (o leiver ouvá uews präs, or plot ou à).
on whose astronomical work (according to Suidas) Hence s=2 (givetai ó sòs uố B') &c.
Hypatia wrote a commentary, and whose arith- A young algebraist of our day might hardly be
metic Theon mentions in his commentary on the inclined to give the name of algebraical notation to
Almagest, be the subject of our article, he must the preceding, though he might admit that there
have lived before the fifth century: but it would was algebraical reasoning. But if he had consulted
be by no means safe to assume this identity. the Hindu or Mahommedan writers, or Cardan,
Abulpharagius, according to Montucla, places him Tartaglia, Stevinus, and the other European algebra-
at A. D. 365. The first writer who mentions him, ists, who preceded Vieta, he would see that he must
(if it be not Theon) is John, patriarch of Jerusa- either give the name to the notation above exem-
lem, in his life of Johannes Damascenus, written in plified, or refuse it to everything which preceded
the eighth century. It matters not much where the seventeenth century. Diophantus declines his
we place him, as far as Greek literature is concern- letters, just as we now speak of mth or (m+1) th;
ed: the question will only become of importance and mô is an abbreviation of uovás or jováões, as
when we have the means of investigating whether the case may be.
or not he derived his algebra, or any of it, from an The question whether Diophantus was an original
Indian source. Colebrooke, as to this matter, is inventor, or whether he had received a hint from
content that Diophantus should be placed in the India, the only country we know of which could
fourth century. (See the Penny Cyclopaediu, art. then have given one, is of great difficulty. We
Via Gunita. )
cannot enter into it at length: the very great simi.
## p. 1051 (#1071) ##########################################
DIOSCORIDES.
1051
DIOSCORIDES.
monstration.
a
larity of the Diophantine and Hindu algebra (ax the pupil of Isocrates, or of the Stoic Diuscorides
far as the former goes) makes it almost certain that is uncertain.
the two must have had a common origin, or bave 4. The father of Zeno of Tarsus, the Stoic, who
come one from the other; though it is clear that succeeded Chrysippus. The latter dedicated to
Diophantus, if a borrower, has completely recast the Dioscorides several of his works, as we learn from
subject by the introduction of Euclid's form of de Diogenes (vii. 190, 193, 199, 200, 202) and Sui-
On this point we refer to the article das (s. r. Zuvwv).
of the Penny Cyclopaedia already cited.
5. A writer on astrology, an opinion of whose
There are many paraphrases, so-called transla- is quoted by Censorinus. (De Die Nat. 17; comp.
tions, and abbreviations of Diophantus, but very Varro, de 1. . L. Fragm. p. 369, ed. Bipont. ) [L. S. )
few editions. Joseph Auria prepared an edition DIOSCOʻRIDES (Aloo kopions), the author of
(Gr. Lat. ) of the whole, with the Scholia of the thirty-nine epigrams the Greek Anthology
monk Maximus Planudes on the first two books ; (Brunck, Anal. j. 493 ; Jacobs, i. 244 ; xiii. 706,
but it was never printed. The first edition is that No. 142) seems, from the internal evidence of his
of Xylander, Basle, 1575, folio, in Latin only, with epigrams, to have lived in Egypt, about the time of
the Scholia and notes. The first Greek edition, Ptolemy Euergetes. His epigrams are chiefly upon
with Latin, (and original notes, the Scholia being the great men of antiquity, especially the poets.
rejected as useless,) is that of Bachet de Meziriac, One of them (No. 35) would seem, from its title in
Paris, 1621, folio. Fermat left materials for the the Vatican MS. , Aloo kopiðov Nikopolítov, to be
second and best edition (Gr. Lat. ), in which is pre- the production of a later writer. The epigrams of
served all that was good in Bachet, and in particu- Dioscorides were included in the Garlund of Me-
lar his Latin version, and most valuable comments lenger. (Jacobs, xiii. pp. 886, 887. ) (P. S. ]
and additions of his own (it being peculiarly his DIOSCOʻRIDES, artists. [DIOSCURIDES. ]
subject). These materials were collected by J. de DIOSCORIDES (Διοσκουρίδης Or Διοσκορί-
Billy, and published by Fermat's son, Toulouse, ons), the name of several physicians and botanical
1670, folio. An English lady, the late Miss Abi- writers, whom it is not easy to distinguish from
gail Baruch Lousada, whose successful cultivation each other with certainty.
of mathematics and close attention to this writer for 1. PEDACIUs or PEDANIUs (Πεδάκιος or Πεδάνιος)
many years was well known to scientific persons, Dioscorides, the author of the celebrated Treatise
left a complete translation of Diophantus, with on Materia Medica, that bears his name. It is
notes : it has not yet been published, and we trust, generally supposed, says Dr. Bostock, that he was a
will not be lost.
[A. De M. ] native of Anazarba, in Cilicia Campestris, and that
DIOPHANTUS or DIOPHANTES (A16Pavtos he was a physician by profession. It appears pretty
or Alopárons), a medical writer of Lycia (Galen, evident, that he lived in the first or) second cen-
De Compos. Medicam. sec. Locos, ix. 4, vol. xiii. p. tury of the Christian era, and as he is not mentioned
281), several of whose medical formulae are quoted by Pliny, it has been supposed that he was a little
by Galen (vol. xii. p. 845; xiü. 507, 805 ; xiv. 175, posterior to him. The exact age of Dioscorides has.
181), and who must, therefore, have lived in or be- however, been a question of much critical discussion.
fore the second century after Christ. [W. A. G. ] and we have nothing but conjecture which can lead
DIOʻRES, a painter, who is mentioned by Varro us to decide upon it. He has left behind him a
with Micon, the contemporary of Polygotus, in Treatise on Materia Medica, Tepi Tans 'latpiañs.
such a manner as to imply that he lived at the in five books, a work of great labour and research,
same time. The text of the passage, however, is and which for many ages was received as a standard
80 corrupt, that the name is not made out with production. The greater correctness of modern
certainty. (Varro, L. L. ix. 12, ed. Müller; science, and the new discoveries which have been
Micon. )
[P. S. ) made, cause it now to be regarded rather as a work
DIOSCOʻRIDES (A100 Kopíons). 1. A Byzan- of curiosity than of absolute utility; but in drawing
tine grammarian, a brother of Hipparchus and Ni- up a history of the state and progress of medicine,
colaus, and a disciple of Lachares at Athens. He it affords a most valuable document for our infor-
lived in the reign of the emperors Marcianus and mation. His treatise consists of a description of all
Leo. (Suid. s. v. Nikólaos; Eudoc. p. 309. ) the articles then used in medicine, with an account
2. O: Cyprus, a sceptic philosopher, and a pupil of their supposed virtues. The descriptions are
of Timon. (Diog. Laërt. ix. 114, 115. )
brief, and not unfrequently so little characterized as
3. A disciple of Isocrates, who is said by Athe- not to enable us to ascertain with any degree of
naeus (i. p. 11) to have interpolated the Homeric accuracy to what they refer; while the practica!
poems. Suidas (s. v. 'Ounpos) attributes to him part of his work is in a great measure empirical,
a work entitled oi trap? 'Ouýpo vóuoi. As he is although his general principles (so far as they can
thus known to have been engaged in the study of be detected) appear to be those of the Dogmatic
Homer, it is not improbable that he was also the sect. The great importance which was for so long
author of the περί του των ηρώων καθ' “Ομηρον | a period attached to the works of Dioscorides, has
Biov, from which a fragment is quoted by Athe- rendered them the subject of almost innumerable
naeus (i. p. 8; comp. Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1270. ) commentaries and criticisms, and even some of the
The amournuovetuara, mentioned by Diogenes most learned of our modern naturalists have not
Laërtius (i. 63) and Athenaeus (xi. p. 507), may thought it an unworthy task to attempt the illus-
likewise have been his work, though everything is tration of his Materia Medica. Upon the whole,
uncertain.
We have further mention of a work on we must attribute to him the merit of great industry
the constitution of Lacedaemon ascribed to Diosco and patient research ; and it seems but just to
rides (Athen. iv. p. 140; Plut. Lyc. 11, Ages. 35), ascribe a large portion of the errors and inaccuracies
and of another nepi vouiuwv (Schol. aul Aristoph. into which he has fallen, more to the imperfect state
Ar. 1283; Suid. and Phot. s. v. okutáln; Eudoc. of science when he wrote, than to any defect in the
p. 280); but whether they were the productions of character and talents of the writer.
ܪ
## p. 1052 (#1072) ##########################################
1052
DIOSCORIDES.
DIOSCURI.
was
His work has been compared with that of Theo-neta (De Rc Med. iv. 24), as a native of Alexandrin.
phrastus, but this seems to be doing justice to He wrote several medical works, which are not now
neither party, as the objects of the two authors extant. (Suid. l. c. ; Erotian. Gloss. Ilippocr. p. 8. )
wore totally different, the one writing as a scien- 3. DIOSCORIDES, a Grammarian at Rome, who,
titic botanist, the other merely as a herbalist; and if not actually a physician, appears, at any ratc, to
accordingly we find each of these celebrated men have given great attention to medical literature. He
superior to the other in his own department. lived in the beginning of the second century after
With respect to the ancient writers on Materia Christ, probably in the reign of Hadrian, a. D.
Medica who succeeded Dioscorides, they were 117-138, and superintended an edition of the
generally content to quote his authority without works of Hippocrates, which was much esteemed.
presuming to correct his errors or supply his defi- He is, however, accused by Galen of having made
ciencies. That part of his work which relates to considerable alterations in the text, and of changing
the plants growing in Greece has be’n very much the old readings and modernizing the language.
illustrated by the late Dr. John Sibthorp, who, He was a relation of Artemidorus Capito, another
when he was elected one of the Radcliffe Travelling editor of Hippocrates, and is several times quoted
Fellows of the University of Oxford, travelled in by Galen. (Galen, Comment. in Hippocr. “ De Nat.
Greece and the neighbouring parts for the purpose Hom. ”i. l ; ii. 1, vol. xv. pp. 21, 110; Comment, in
of collecting materials for a * Flora Graeca. ” This lippocr. “ De Ilumor. ” j. proocm. vol. xvi. p. 2;
tnagnificent work was begun after his death, under Comment. in Ilippocr. “Epidem. VI. " i. prooem. vol.
the direction of the late Sir J. E. Smith (1806), xvii. part i. p. 795; Gloss. Ilippocr. in v. dneßpár-
and has been lately finished, in ten volumes folio, Eto, vol. xix. p. 83. )
[W. A. G. )
by Professor Lindley. With respect to the plants DIOSCOʻRIUS (A100 Kópios) of Myra, was the
and other productions of the East mentioned by instructor in grammar of the daughters of the en-
Dioscorides, much still remains to be done towards peror Leo, at Byzantium, and also prefect of the
their illustration, and identification with the articles city and of the praetorians. (Suid. s. v. ) [P. S.
met with in those countries in the present day. A
DIOʻSCORUS (A100 kopos). 1. A physician,
few specimens of this are given by Dr. Royle, in probably born at Tralles in Lydia, in the sixth
his “Essay on the Antiquity of Hindoo Medicine" century after Christ His father's name
(Lond. 8vo. 1837), and probably no man in Eng. Stephanus, who was a physician (Alex. Trall. de
land is more fitted to undertake the task than Re Med. ir. 1, p. 198); one of his brothers was
himself.
the physician Alexander Trallianus ; another was
Besides the celebrated treatise on Materia Medica, the architect and mathematician, Anthemius; and
the following works are generally attributed to Dios- Agathias mentions that his two other brothers,
corides : llepl Anantnplwv Papuakwv, De l'enenis ; | Metrodorus and Olympius, were both eminent in
Tepi 'Iobówv, De Venenatis Animalibus ; Nepl EJ- their several professions. (Hist. v. p. 149. )
πορίστων Απλών τε και Συνθέτων Φαρμάκων, De 2. Another physician of the same name, must
facile Parabilibus tam Simplicibus quam Compositis have lived some time in or before the second cen-
Medicamentis; and a few smaller works, which are tury after Christ, as one of his medical formulae is
considered spurious. His works first appeared in a quoted by Galen. (De Compos. Medicam. sec.
Latin translation (supposed to be by Petrus de Locos, viii. 7, vol. xiii. p. 204. ) (W. A. G. )
Abano) in 1478, fol. Colle, in black letter. The first DIOSCURUS, a togatus of the praetorian
Greek edition was published by Aldus Manutius, forum, was one of the commission of ten appointed
Venet. 1499, fol. , and is said to be very scarce. Per- by Justinian in A. D. 528, to compile the Constitu-
haps the most valuable edition is that by J. A. Sa- tionum Codex. (Const. Haec quue necessario, § 1,
racenus, Greek and Latin, Francof. 1598. fol. , with Const. Summa Reip. $ 2. ). [J. T. G. ]
a copious and learned commentary. The last edition DIOSCUʻRI (A:00 Koupoi), that is, sons of
is that by C. Sprengel, in two vols. 8vo. Lips. 1829, Zeus, the well-known heroes, Castor and Pollux,
1830, in Greek and Latin, with a useful commen- or Polydeuces. The singular form Albo kovpos, or
tary, forming the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth vols. Acórkopos, occurs only in the writings of gram-
of Kühn's Collection of the Greek Medical Writers. marians, and the Latins sometimes use Castores
The work of Dioscorides has been translated and for the two brothers. (Plin. 11. N. x. 43 ; Sers.
published in the Italian, German, Spanish, and ad Virg. Georg. 11. 89 ; Horat. Carm. iii. 29, 67. )
French languages ; there is also an Arabic Trans According to the Homeric poems (Od. xi. 298, &c. )
lation, which is still in MS. in several European they were the sons of Leda and Tyndareus, king of
libraries. For further information respecting Dios Lacedaemon, and consequently brothers of Helena.
corides and the editions of his work, see Le Clerc, (Hom. 11. iii. 426. ) Hence they are often called by
Hist. de la Med. ; Haller, Biblioth. Botan. ; Sprengel, the patronymic Tyndaridae. (Ov. Fast. v. 700,
Hist. de la Méd. ; Fabric. Biblioth. Graeca; Bo- Mel. viii. 301. ) Castor was famous for his skill
stock's History of Medicine ; Choulant, Handbuch in taming and managing horses, and Pollux for
der Bücherkunde für die Adltere Medicin.
his skill in boxing. Both bad disappeared from
2. DIOSCORIDES Phacas (pakas) a physician the earth before the Greeks went against Troy.
who was one of the followers of Herophilus (Galen, Although they were buried, says Homer, yet they
Gloss. Hippocr. prooem. vol. xix. p. 63), and lived came to life every other day, and they enjoyed
in the second or first century B. C. According to honours like those of the gods. According to
Suidas (s. r.
( Mythinl. i. 1) as the author of a work on Antiqui- aid of general symbols, and with some use of sym-
ties, in fourteen books, and on the worship of the bols of operation ; so that, though the demonstra-
gods. Whether he is the same as the geographer, tions are very much conducted in words at length,
Diophantus, who wrote a description of the north- and arranged so as to remind us of Euclid, there is
ern countries (Phot. Bibl. Cod. 250, p. 454, b. ), no question that the work is algebraical: not a
which is also quoted by Stephanus of Byzantium treatise on algebra, but an algebraical treatise on
(s. v. "A6101), or the Diophantus who wrote a work the relations of integer numbers, and on the solu-
TOMITIKá (Steph. Byz. s. v. Aibuotivo), cannot be tion of equations of more than one variable in inte-
decided.
gers. Hence such questions obtained the name of
4. A slave of Straton, who was manumitted by Diophantine, and the modern works on that pecu-
the will of his master. (Diog. Laërt. v. 63. ) He culiar branch of numerical analysis which is called
seems to be the same as the Diophantus mentioned the theory of numbers, such as those of Gauss and
in the will of Lycon. (Id. v. 71. )
Legendre, would have been said, a century ago, to
5. Of Syracuse, a Pythagorean philosopher, who be full of Diophantine analysis. As there are many
seems to have been an author, for his opinion on the classical students who will not see a copy of Dio-
origin of the world is adduced by Theodoretus. phantus in their lives, it may be desirable to give
(Therap. iv. p. 795. )
(L. S. ] one simple proposition from that writer in modern
DIOPHANTUS (416 Pavtos), an Athenian co words and symbols, annexing the algebraical phrases
mic poet of the new comedy. (Antiatticista, p. 115, from the original.
21: φέρειν τον οίνον επί του νηφειν. Διόφαντος Book i. qu. 30. Having given the sum of two
Μετοικιζομένω. )
[P. S. ] numbers (20) and their product (96), required the
DIOPHANTUS (A16Pavtos), of Alexandria, numbers. Observe that the square of the half sum
the only Greek writer on Algebra. His period is should be greater than the product. Let the differ-
wholly unknown, which is not to be wondered at ence of the numbers be 2s (sso B'); then the sum
if we consider that he stands quite alone as to the being 20 (x') and the half sum 10 (1) the greater
subject which he treated. But, looking at the im- number will be s+10 (Tetáxow oỦv • uelzwv sou
probability of all mention of such a writer being évòs kal uôi) and the less will be 10-8 (uôi
omitted by Proclus and Pappus, we feel strongly in-dehyer soù évòs, which he would often write mô
clined to place him towards the end of the fifth cen- sòs à). But the product is 96 (RS') which is also
tury of our era at the earliest. If the Diophantus, 100—si (o leiver ouvá uews präs, or plot ou à).
on whose astronomical work (according to Suidas) Hence s=2 (givetai ó sòs uố B') &c.
Hypatia wrote a commentary, and whose arith- A young algebraist of our day might hardly be
metic Theon mentions in his commentary on the inclined to give the name of algebraical notation to
Almagest, be the subject of our article, he must the preceding, though he might admit that there
have lived before the fifth century: but it would was algebraical reasoning. But if he had consulted
be by no means safe to assume this identity. the Hindu or Mahommedan writers, or Cardan,
Abulpharagius, according to Montucla, places him Tartaglia, Stevinus, and the other European algebra-
at A. D. 365. The first writer who mentions him, ists, who preceded Vieta, he would see that he must
(if it be not Theon) is John, patriarch of Jerusa- either give the name to the notation above exem-
lem, in his life of Johannes Damascenus, written in plified, or refuse it to everything which preceded
the eighth century. It matters not much where the seventeenth century. Diophantus declines his
we place him, as far as Greek literature is concern- letters, just as we now speak of mth or (m+1) th;
ed: the question will only become of importance and mô is an abbreviation of uovás or jováões, as
when we have the means of investigating whether the case may be.
or not he derived his algebra, or any of it, from an The question whether Diophantus was an original
Indian source. Colebrooke, as to this matter, is inventor, or whether he had received a hint from
content that Diophantus should be placed in the India, the only country we know of which could
fourth century. (See the Penny Cyclopaediu, art. then have given one, is of great difficulty. We
Via Gunita. )
cannot enter into it at length: the very great simi.
## p. 1051 (#1071) ##########################################
DIOSCORIDES.
1051
DIOSCORIDES.
monstration.
a
larity of the Diophantine and Hindu algebra (ax the pupil of Isocrates, or of the Stoic Diuscorides
far as the former goes) makes it almost certain that is uncertain.
the two must have had a common origin, or bave 4. The father of Zeno of Tarsus, the Stoic, who
come one from the other; though it is clear that succeeded Chrysippus. The latter dedicated to
Diophantus, if a borrower, has completely recast the Dioscorides several of his works, as we learn from
subject by the introduction of Euclid's form of de Diogenes (vii. 190, 193, 199, 200, 202) and Sui-
On this point we refer to the article das (s. r. Zuvwv).
of the Penny Cyclopaedia already cited.
5. A writer on astrology, an opinion of whose
There are many paraphrases, so-called transla- is quoted by Censorinus. (De Die Nat. 17; comp.
tions, and abbreviations of Diophantus, but very Varro, de 1. . L. Fragm. p. 369, ed. Bipont. ) [L. S. )
few editions. Joseph Auria prepared an edition DIOSCOʻRIDES (Aloo kopions), the author of
(Gr. Lat. ) of the whole, with the Scholia of the thirty-nine epigrams the Greek Anthology
monk Maximus Planudes on the first two books ; (Brunck, Anal. j. 493 ; Jacobs, i. 244 ; xiii. 706,
but it was never printed. The first edition is that No. 142) seems, from the internal evidence of his
of Xylander, Basle, 1575, folio, in Latin only, with epigrams, to have lived in Egypt, about the time of
the Scholia and notes. The first Greek edition, Ptolemy Euergetes. His epigrams are chiefly upon
with Latin, (and original notes, the Scholia being the great men of antiquity, especially the poets.
rejected as useless,) is that of Bachet de Meziriac, One of them (No. 35) would seem, from its title in
Paris, 1621, folio. Fermat left materials for the the Vatican MS. , Aloo kopiðov Nikopolítov, to be
second and best edition (Gr. Lat. ), in which is pre- the production of a later writer. The epigrams of
served all that was good in Bachet, and in particu- Dioscorides were included in the Garlund of Me-
lar his Latin version, and most valuable comments lenger. (Jacobs, xiii. pp. 886, 887. ) (P. S. ]
and additions of his own (it being peculiarly his DIOSCOʻRIDES, artists. [DIOSCURIDES. ]
subject). These materials were collected by J. de DIOSCORIDES (Διοσκουρίδης Or Διοσκορί-
Billy, and published by Fermat's son, Toulouse, ons), the name of several physicians and botanical
1670, folio. An English lady, the late Miss Abi- writers, whom it is not easy to distinguish from
gail Baruch Lousada, whose successful cultivation each other with certainty.
of mathematics and close attention to this writer for 1. PEDACIUs or PEDANIUs (Πεδάκιος or Πεδάνιος)
many years was well known to scientific persons, Dioscorides, the author of the celebrated Treatise
left a complete translation of Diophantus, with on Materia Medica, that bears his name. It is
notes : it has not yet been published, and we trust, generally supposed, says Dr. Bostock, that he was a
will not be lost.
[A. De M. ] native of Anazarba, in Cilicia Campestris, and that
DIOPHANTUS or DIOPHANTES (A16Pavtos he was a physician by profession. It appears pretty
or Alopárons), a medical writer of Lycia (Galen, evident, that he lived in the first or) second cen-
De Compos. Medicam. sec. Locos, ix. 4, vol. xiii. p. tury of the Christian era, and as he is not mentioned
281), several of whose medical formulae are quoted by Pliny, it has been supposed that he was a little
by Galen (vol. xii. p. 845; xiü. 507, 805 ; xiv. 175, posterior to him. The exact age of Dioscorides has.
181), and who must, therefore, have lived in or be- however, been a question of much critical discussion.
fore the second century after Christ. [W. A. G. ] and we have nothing but conjecture which can lead
DIOʻRES, a painter, who is mentioned by Varro us to decide upon it. He has left behind him a
with Micon, the contemporary of Polygotus, in Treatise on Materia Medica, Tepi Tans 'latpiañs.
such a manner as to imply that he lived at the in five books, a work of great labour and research,
same time. The text of the passage, however, is and which for many ages was received as a standard
80 corrupt, that the name is not made out with production. The greater correctness of modern
certainty. (Varro, L. L. ix. 12, ed. Müller; science, and the new discoveries which have been
Micon. )
[P. S. ) made, cause it now to be regarded rather as a work
DIOSCOʻRIDES (A100 Kopíons). 1. A Byzan- of curiosity than of absolute utility; but in drawing
tine grammarian, a brother of Hipparchus and Ni- up a history of the state and progress of medicine,
colaus, and a disciple of Lachares at Athens. He it affords a most valuable document for our infor-
lived in the reign of the emperors Marcianus and mation. His treatise consists of a description of all
Leo. (Suid. s. v. Nikólaos; Eudoc. p. 309. ) the articles then used in medicine, with an account
2. O: Cyprus, a sceptic philosopher, and a pupil of their supposed virtues. The descriptions are
of Timon. (Diog. Laërt. ix. 114, 115. )
brief, and not unfrequently so little characterized as
3. A disciple of Isocrates, who is said by Athe- not to enable us to ascertain with any degree of
naeus (i. p. 11) to have interpolated the Homeric accuracy to what they refer; while the practica!
poems. Suidas (s. v. 'Ounpos) attributes to him part of his work is in a great measure empirical,
a work entitled oi trap? 'Ouýpo vóuoi. As he is although his general principles (so far as they can
thus known to have been engaged in the study of be detected) appear to be those of the Dogmatic
Homer, it is not improbable that he was also the sect. The great importance which was for so long
author of the περί του των ηρώων καθ' “Ομηρον | a period attached to the works of Dioscorides, has
Biov, from which a fragment is quoted by Athe- rendered them the subject of almost innumerable
naeus (i. p. 8; comp. Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1270. ) commentaries and criticisms, and even some of the
The amournuovetuara, mentioned by Diogenes most learned of our modern naturalists have not
Laërtius (i. 63) and Athenaeus (xi. p. 507), may thought it an unworthy task to attempt the illus-
likewise have been his work, though everything is tration of his Materia Medica. Upon the whole,
uncertain.
We have further mention of a work on we must attribute to him the merit of great industry
the constitution of Lacedaemon ascribed to Diosco and patient research ; and it seems but just to
rides (Athen. iv. p. 140; Plut. Lyc. 11, Ages. 35), ascribe a large portion of the errors and inaccuracies
and of another nepi vouiuwv (Schol. aul Aristoph. into which he has fallen, more to the imperfect state
Ar. 1283; Suid. and Phot. s. v. okutáln; Eudoc. of science when he wrote, than to any defect in the
p. 280); but whether they were the productions of character and talents of the writer.
ܪ
## p. 1052 (#1072) ##########################################
1052
DIOSCORIDES.
DIOSCURI.
was
His work has been compared with that of Theo-neta (De Rc Med. iv. 24), as a native of Alexandrin.
phrastus, but this seems to be doing justice to He wrote several medical works, which are not now
neither party, as the objects of the two authors extant. (Suid. l. c. ; Erotian. Gloss. Ilippocr. p. 8. )
wore totally different, the one writing as a scien- 3. DIOSCORIDES, a Grammarian at Rome, who,
titic botanist, the other merely as a herbalist; and if not actually a physician, appears, at any ratc, to
accordingly we find each of these celebrated men have given great attention to medical literature. He
superior to the other in his own department. lived in the beginning of the second century after
With respect to the ancient writers on Materia Christ, probably in the reign of Hadrian, a. D.
Medica who succeeded Dioscorides, they were 117-138, and superintended an edition of the
generally content to quote his authority without works of Hippocrates, which was much esteemed.
presuming to correct his errors or supply his defi- He is, however, accused by Galen of having made
ciencies. That part of his work which relates to considerable alterations in the text, and of changing
the plants growing in Greece has be’n very much the old readings and modernizing the language.
illustrated by the late Dr. John Sibthorp, who, He was a relation of Artemidorus Capito, another
when he was elected one of the Radcliffe Travelling editor of Hippocrates, and is several times quoted
Fellows of the University of Oxford, travelled in by Galen. (Galen, Comment. in Hippocr. “ De Nat.
Greece and the neighbouring parts for the purpose Hom. ”i. l ; ii. 1, vol. xv. pp. 21, 110; Comment, in
of collecting materials for a * Flora Graeca. ” This lippocr. “ De Ilumor. ” j. proocm. vol. xvi. p. 2;
tnagnificent work was begun after his death, under Comment. in Ilippocr. “Epidem. VI. " i. prooem. vol.
the direction of the late Sir J. E. Smith (1806), xvii. part i. p. 795; Gloss. Ilippocr. in v. dneßpár-
and has been lately finished, in ten volumes folio, Eto, vol. xix. p. 83. )
[W. A. G. )
by Professor Lindley. With respect to the plants DIOSCOʻRIUS (A100 Kópios) of Myra, was the
and other productions of the East mentioned by instructor in grammar of the daughters of the en-
Dioscorides, much still remains to be done towards peror Leo, at Byzantium, and also prefect of the
their illustration, and identification with the articles city and of the praetorians. (Suid. s. v. ) [P. S.
met with in those countries in the present day. A
DIOʻSCORUS (A100 kopos). 1. A physician,
few specimens of this are given by Dr. Royle, in probably born at Tralles in Lydia, in the sixth
his “Essay on the Antiquity of Hindoo Medicine" century after Christ His father's name
(Lond. 8vo. 1837), and probably no man in Eng. Stephanus, who was a physician (Alex. Trall. de
land is more fitted to undertake the task than Re Med. ir. 1, p. 198); one of his brothers was
himself.
the physician Alexander Trallianus ; another was
Besides the celebrated treatise on Materia Medica, the architect and mathematician, Anthemius; and
the following works are generally attributed to Dios- Agathias mentions that his two other brothers,
corides : llepl Anantnplwv Papuakwv, De l'enenis ; | Metrodorus and Olympius, were both eminent in
Tepi 'Iobówv, De Venenatis Animalibus ; Nepl EJ- their several professions. (Hist. v. p. 149. )
πορίστων Απλών τε και Συνθέτων Φαρμάκων, De 2. Another physician of the same name, must
facile Parabilibus tam Simplicibus quam Compositis have lived some time in or before the second cen-
Medicamentis; and a few smaller works, which are tury after Christ, as one of his medical formulae is
considered spurious. His works first appeared in a quoted by Galen. (De Compos. Medicam. sec.
Latin translation (supposed to be by Petrus de Locos, viii. 7, vol. xiii. p. 204. ) (W. A. G. )
Abano) in 1478, fol. Colle, in black letter. The first DIOSCURUS, a togatus of the praetorian
Greek edition was published by Aldus Manutius, forum, was one of the commission of ten appointed
Venet. 1499, fol. , and is said to be very scarce. Per- by Justinian in A. D. 528, to compile the Constitu-
haps the most valuable edition is that by J. A. Sa- tionum Codex. (Const. Haec quue necessario, § 1,
racenus, Greek and Latin, Francof. 1598. fol. , with Const. Summa Reip. $ 2. ). [J. T. G. ]
a copious and learned commentary. The last edition DIOSCUʻRI (A:00 Koupoi), that is, sons of
is that by C. Sprengel, in two vols. 8vo. Lips. 1829, Zeus, the well-known heroes, Castor and Pollux,
1830, in Greek and Latin, with a useful commen- or Polydeuces. The singular form Albo kovpos, or
tary, forming the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth vols. Acórkopos, occurs only in the writings of gram-
of Kühn's Collection of the Greek Medical Writers. marians, and the Latins sometimes use Castores
The work of Dioscorides has been translated and for the two brothers. (Plin. 11. N. x. 43 ; Sers.
published in the Italian, German, Spanish, and ad Virg. Georg. 11. 89 ; Horat. Carm. iii. 29, 67. )
French languages ; there is also an Arabic Trans According to the Homeric poems (Od. xi. 298, &c. )
lation, which is still in MS. in several European they were the sons of Leda and Tyndareus, king of
libraries. For further information respecting Dios Lacedaemon, and consequently brothers of Helena.
corides and the editions of his work, see Le Clerc, (Hom. 11. iii. 426. ) Hence they are often called by
Hist. de la Med. ; Haller, Biblioth. Botan. ; Sprengel, the patronymic Tyndaridae. (Ov. Fast. v. 700,
Hist. de la Méd. ; Fabric. Biblioth. Graeca; Bo- Mel. viii. 301. ) Castor was famous for his skill
stock's History of Medicine ; Choulant, Handbuch in taming and managing horses, and Pollux for
der Bücherkunde für die Adltere Medicin.
his skill in boxing. Both bad disappeared from
2. DIOSCORIDES Phacas (pakas) a physician the earth before the Greeks went against Troy.
who was one of the followers of Herophilus (Galen, Although they were buried, says Homer, yet they
Gloss. Hippocr. prooem. vol. xix. p. 63), and lived came to life every other day, and they enjoyed
in the second or first century B. C. According to honours like those of the gods. According to
Suidas (s. r.
